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Written by Lorna F., Somerset County Rutgers Master Gardener
Soil health is the foundation of any garden or lawn. Here are some reasons you should test your soil.
You are starting a new garden or seeding/renovating a lawn:
- Start your garden project right. Soil testing will give you the information you need to make sure your soil provides your new plants with a great start.
You’ve never tested your soil:
- If you haven’t tested, you just don’t know what you need in order to optimize your garden’s growth.
Different kinds of plants are declining/dying:
- Pest and disease problems usually affect plants by plant families. If you have plants from multiple plant types/families declining in your garden, then you should look at the soil the plants are growing in.
Your garden or lawn just isn’t thriving:
- If you do everything right (watering, fertilizing, placing/planting correctly) but your plants look pale, small, weak, or are not flowering or fruiting, then look to soil pH and nutrient levels for possible answers.
Finally, soil testing is economically prudent & environmentally responsible.
- If soil pH is not at the optimal level for what you are growing, then plants cannot take up and use fertilizer. Don’t buy and apply nutrients that your soil doesn’t need; instead, invest in those nutrients that will bring about healthy growth and yields. Applying fertilizer or other nutrient sources incorrectly can lead to nitrate or phosphorus contamination of our water resources. By applying fertilizer appropriately, you can ensure that you are feeding your plants in an environmentally friendly way.